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ND man assaults cellmate in fight over Ramen noodles

MINOT, N.D. -- A 33-year-old northern North Dakota man will be on probation for almost a year for assaulting his cellmate in a fight over Ramen noodles in the Ward County Jail in Minot.

Jesse Levi Jones of Kenmare pleaded guilty on Friday, June 8, to Class A misdemeanor assault. He had originally been charged with Class C felony aggravated assault and accused of breaking the other man's jaw.

According to court documents, Jones and David Lee Pieper Jr. got into a dispute on Feb. 2. Pieper claimed he was missing seven ramen noodle packages and a bowl and Jones became aggressive with him when he asked Jones where his ramen noodles were. Jail security footage showed Jones punching Pieper.

The state noted that the charge was amended "in the interest of justice" because they had difficulty establishing which man was the aggressor and which man was the victim.